Follow me
deny yourself, pick up your cross, and follow me • Sermon • Submitted • Presented
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In this life of commitment in Jesus Christ we see a three fold call to action.
A putting away
I have put away my old self
A taking up
Put on a new mind and now a reminded everyday as i move forward its not about me but Him.
I have died to myself and now my wants and desires no longer matter. for they were just a mere mirage anyways.
And a moving forward
Now we come to this portion where Jesus commands his disciples to follow him.
This I believe is an amazing call and causes me to stop and ponder the riches of Christ grace.
What God calls me unto is nothing that he himself didn’t not endure.
Christ not only gives the command but leads by example.
This was not so for the religious leaders in Jesus day for He said do as they say but not as they do. They would burden people with their man made laws but then wouldn’t do themselves.
But Jesus just testified, in his lesson to peter that he was going to have to go jerusalem, suffer many things and then be put to death.
Peter says let not be so.
Jesus response was get behind me satan for you are not mindful of the things of God but rather of men.
In the garden of gathsemane Jesus cried out to God, sweating drops of blood, let this cup pass from me but nevertheless your will be done Father.
Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus, who, being in the form of God, did not consider it robbery to be equal with God, but made Himself of no reputation, taking the form of a bondservant, and coming in the likeness of men. And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of death, even the death of the cross.
Philippians 2:5-
Does Jesus Lead us anywhere he himself will not go?
His command is not greater than what he himself has done.
The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.
Psalms 23
This is davids reflection of the wonderful care of the good shepherd
You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies;
You anoint my head with oil;
My cup runs over.
Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death,
I will fear no evil;
For You are with me;
Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me.
the good shepherd that led them to the clean water, that caused them to lie down in the green pastures, that restores their soul when they become cast is also the same shepherd that leads them through the valley.
When you only see in part and never live for the kingdom to come the valleys are something you dont grow to love but rather hate.
But to the apostles this was not something foreign.
My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials,
James, a bondservant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ,
To the twelve tribes which are scattered abroad:
Greetings.
What Joy? why?
knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience.
knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience. But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing.
IT begins to refine us. Peter says
In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while, if need be, you have been grieved by various trials, that the genuineness of your faith, being much more precious than gold that perishes, though it is tested by fire, may be found to praise, honor, and glory at the revelation of Jesus Christ,
It works a work in us to grow us that we may see God in greater light. The king in greater clarity. That we may trust to greater degrees and have victory in greater magnitude.
1 Peter 1:3-
This may be hard for some of us to understand but there are times that God allows us to go through hardships that he may refine us into more christ like image. That we may grow. It is actually for our good. This is why James can say count it all joy for this means God is working in you to rid you of things in your life that will bring you harm.
Think if you would for a moment about Shadrach, Meshack and Abednego.
They were approached with the fiery furnace and they give us much wisdom for today in the midst of our secular culture.
Think about Daniel and the lions den.
Though told he couldn’t pray to God otherwise it meant death. HE said bring on death. Im not fearful of what man may do to me.
Think about Esther and her uncle Mordecai.
Esther testifies that it will cost her her life to go before the king in such ways.
Whether the deliverance comes in this life or the next we can be sure it will come. Our God may spare us in the fire but He may not as well. for he has a plan and a purpose for all things.
Are we willing trust in him. Even to death?
The disciples were beaten and threatened with their lives to no longer to speak about this Jesus, yet they couldn’t keep silent. They rejoiced in their beatings and praise the Lord in the midst of their threats.
But Peter and John answered and said to them, “Whether it is right in the sight of God to listen to you more than to God, you judge. For we cannot but speak the things which we have seen and heard.”
Acts 4:19-20
Will we be bold enough to stand for christ in the midst of a culture that continaully threatens us. That tells us to be quiet?
Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.
For consider Him who endured such hostility from sinners against Himself, lest you become weary and discouraged in your souls.
There have been others that have gone before us that displays the faithfulness of God to keep his promises.
Then we go forth like paul
Imitate me, just as I also imitate Christ.
The love of christ compels us. and we no longer live to ourselves but to him
Now then, we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were pleading through us: we implore you on Christ’s behalf, be reconciled to God.
There is a world of sinners bound in darkness and God has given us broken vessels of clay the knowledge of the glorious riches found in Christ that we may go tell it to the world. This is not a calling for the coward, the weak, but rather for the bold and courageous.
Then we go forth like paul
Imitate me, just as I also imitate Christ.
Can you say this unto those that are in your sphere of influence that know your every step?
With the music you listen to
With the video games you play
With the movies you watch
Wit the websites you visit
With the thoughts you have
With the words you say
with the life you live
Are you willing to follow no matter the cost. Even if it means the fire?
Even if it means death. And will we share it with the world?
I believe just maybe that you were created for such a time as this.
1 Corinthians 5:20
1 corinthians 5:20
Will you honor the Lord, Deny yourself, pick up your cross, and follow him?
Only to find the life you always wanted but never could find! It lies at the bottom of a cross with a forsaking of all that you know, with no reservations, no securities, total surrender in the hands of the God who made you and formed you.
But as it is written:
“Eye has not seen, nor ear heard,
Nor have entered into the heart of man
The things which God has prepared for those who love Him.”
Revelation 21:3-
And I heard a loud voice from heaven saying, “Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and He will dwell with them, and they shall be His people. God Himself will be with them and be their God. And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes; there shall be no more death, nor sorrow, nor crying. There shall be no more pain, for the former things have passed away.”
Then He who sat on the throne said, “Behold, I make all things new.” And He said to me, “Write, for these words are true and faithful.”
And He said to me, “It is done! I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End. I will give of the fountain of the water of life freely to him who thirsts.
And he showed me a pure river of water of life, clear as crystal, proceeding from the throne of God and of the Lamb.
